For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Devotional Text
Justice protects a person’s equal rights. Whether rich or poor, born or unborn, educated or illiterate, all people are made in the image of God and deserve equal protection and peace. David prayed for his son Solomon to be endowed with justice (Psalm 72:1). In practical terms, this prayer was asking the Lord to help Solomon “defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors” (v. 4). Additionally, David prayed for Solomon to have “pity for the weak and the needy” (v. 13) and to “save them from oppression and from violence” (vv. 13-14). The secret to obtaining justice is instilling in people a respect for the sanctity of blood, “for the life of any creature is in its blood” (Leviticus 17:11). When we see how precious blood is to God, we will be concerned about its senseless shedding. The ignorant, foolish man really cares nothing for the blood of another as long as his blood is not being shed! On the other hand, the heart of a man of wisdom is broken by the shedding of innocent blood that offends God and His sense of justice. Stand up for innocent blood! In that way you are showing you love justice, just as you love the God of justice.